Bradley Cooper: Steven Spielberg To Direct AMERICAN SNIPER; Drops Out Of JANE GOT A GUN

A year ago I wrote about Bradley Cooper’s American Sniper – saying that it sounded like “a cross between Mark Wahlberg’s Shooter and the Mel Gibson starrer We Were Soldiers”. I was pretty certain that the film would be directed by some generic, workmanlike director, but I was wrong. Really wrong. Steven Spielberg has now signed-on to direct the movie, something which is a major coup for star/producer Cooper.

Here’s the original synopsis for the film, which is based on the memoir, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle:

“[The book] reveals how Texas native Kyle came to record the highest number of sniper kills for an American. The book has been praised for its frankness in telling a first-person account of a warrior who shoots from far and close distances.

Giving the book its emotional core are passages from Kyle’s wife, who slowly watches as her husband’s affection turns from her to the SEALs and war.”

In other news, the Oscar nominee – hot off the success of Silver Linings Playbook – has now dropped out of the troubled (very troubled) Jane Got A Gun and he has been replaced by Ewan McGregor. This move really messes with my Jane Got A Gun Equation (that’ll need to be re-written). The reason cited is scheduling issues. Bradley Cooper is currently shooting David O Russell’s American Hustle, which was delayed by the Boston bombing. Plus, Spielberg just signed on to helm American Sniper.